Toilet paper storage and dispenser



Dec.' 9', 1952 c. s. DEFFENBAUGH TOILET PAPER STORAGE AND DISPENSER 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Fil-ed June 29, 1951 INVENTOR.

CH ESTER S- DEr-FENaApGI-i ATTORNEYS DeC '9, 1952 c. s. DEFFENBAUGH :,gal

'ro1LET,PAPER STORAGE AND DISPENSER Filed June 29, 1951 Si*.IEEITSF--SIiEEfLy 2 5 39 15413 ASB g 15 'iff F F I.' o l9 :i 11 10a 17 41 fa 11a i v c I0 ,fy f :(1)1

. E we "94 l." D 21k za 5' s 27 l' m27 si Z2 n X w- G ii-i462 2* 25, f 12, in l l@ 1?'v v '1.4! 9 10a, B E: 4 2s- .4. 8 F A 7 e 7@ i IN1/ EN TOR. C; H Es T En S QEFFENBALGH BY I ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATJEN T 0F FICE v 2,620,991 TOILET PAPER STORAGE AND DISPENSER 'ChesterrS. Deffenbaugh, Miranda, Calif.

Application J une 29, 1951, ySerial N 02`34,337

6 Claims. 1

An object'of my invention is to provide a toilet paper storage and dispenser which is designed to hold a number ofspare rolls of toletpaper in readiness to be used as needed l`as-wellas -support the roll in use. supporter and dispenser carries but the single rolland when this is consumed,vit is necessary to remove the center tube of therused roll and substitute a new roll in the dispenser. rAn awkward situation arises should a -guest be the one to use the last paper onapractically consumed roll. Once in awhile the supply of new rolls instorage is depleted through negligence or an oversight and it is necessary to make anew purchase at the store before-a fresh roll can Ibe added to the dispenser.

It is possible to buy toilet paper in` individually wrapped rolls or to purchase `a-number of rolls in a single package. In the latter case, four rolls are customarily packed in asinglel wrapping. I have designed the storage compartment of my device to hold at least two extra rolls in Itis a simple for holdinga supply of three -new rolls beside the one in use and therefore my device can take care of the four rolls which can be purchased in a single package.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which novel means is used for feeding one -newroll at -a time into a dispensingv position-as fast as the rollin usev is consumed. The other rolls in the storage compartment are i held against movementsdur- ,ing the movement of the new roll `into dispensing v. i

position. A window in thecontainer permits `the reserve supply of new rolls to be checked so that additional rolls can be added tothe storage compartment when it is seen that the supply is getting low.

Otherobjects andadvantages will appearfin the following specification, and theunovel features of -the device Vwill be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

My invention is illustrated .in theaccompanyingvdrawings forming apart of this. application, in which:

Figure 1 isa side elevation of the device showing the cover in partially open .position in `dot dashlines, and the casing Vreceived in,.a .cavity provided inawallso thatthe front of `thecasing lies yilush with the wall;

Figure 21s a front elevationzof the devicewith a `portion of the toilet -paper roll in use being shown in section in order-to illustratehow the* -roll lisrotatably supported;

YFigure 3 is a top plan viewv of the devicewlth lthe casing being received in .the Wall-cavityand only the closed cover projecting .outyinto-,the froorn;

The usual toilet paper roll Figure 4 is a vertical section through an empty casing and cover and is taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 2, the positions normally occupied by the rolls of toilet paper within the casing and cover being Yindicated by the dot dash circles;

Figure 15 is a transverse section taken along the line V-V of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section, portionsbeing shown in elevation, and is taken along the-line VI-VI of Figure 4.

.While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that v arious` changes or modifications may be made Within the scope -of the appended claims `without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

'In carrying out my invention, I provide a casing indicated generally at A in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5. This casing is in the form of a rectangular box, yexcept that its lower rear wall is rounded as at I in Figure 1. The casing top indicated at 2 is flat and the rear wall 3 extends ina vertical direction `and lies in a iiat plane with .the exception of the lower rounded portion l already referred to. Figure 3 indicates the casing as having flat side Walls 4 and 5 that extendl at right angles to the rear wall 3 and are disposed in vertical planes. The lower portions ofthe side `walls 4 and 5 are rounded at their rearedges so as to conform to the rounded por- -tion I vof the rear Wall.

y The entire front of the casing A is open and the device is designed to be placed within an opening 6Y in a wallB so that the entire casing A will be concealed by the wall and the rim 'l of rthe open frontl of the casing will lie flush with the wall surface as indicated in Figures 1, 3 and 4. The casing may be secured to the wall in any desired manner. I have shown the casingprovided with lugs 8 that preferably lie in the plane ofthe rim'l and screws 9 or other suitable fastening means ymay be used for securing the `casing to .the wall. The height of the casing is rsuch as, to receive three or more rolls of toilet .paper yarranged one .above the other and Vthe width ofthe casing is slightly in excess of the length of lone of the rolls.

kThe casing is provided with a cover'indicated `generally at C and this cover overliesthe lupper open portion of the casing, but ldoes ,notcompletely extend `over the lower end ofthe casing.

The opening provided by the rim 'l of thecasing will ltherefore have its lower portion uncovered so that the Alowerrnostroll oi toilet .paper indicated'at Dean-be used. The cover C hasside -walls H11-andC Hjthat. will form-'acontinuation .ofthesidefwalls 4- and 5 of the casing lA when the ,y cover isvin closed position-shown lbytheflull lines `.in Figure. l-and further-shown `in Figures- 2, 3

3 and 4. The side walls I and II have offset portions Ia and IIa that parallel the side walls 4 and 5, and slidably contact with their inner surfaces. The offset portions Illa and IIa are pivoted to the walls 4 and 5 of the casing A at I'2.

In Figure 1, I show the cover C in closed position in full lines and indicate the same cover as in partially opened position by the dot dash lines. In order to prevent the cover C from opening too far, I provide pivot links E that are pivoted at I3 to the casing A and at I4, to the cover C. When the cover is fully opened, it is possible to insert a new roll of toilet paper through the opening thus provided.

In Figures 2 and 4, I show a pair of flat and elongated toilet roll gripping members F and these members extend substantially throughout the length of the casing when the cover is closed and their lower ends terminate at about the same place where the hinges I2 for the cover are disposed. The gripping members F normally lie in spaced and parallel arrangement with respect to each other and are also spaced inwardly from the side walls I8 and II of the cover a slight distance as shown in Figure 2. Both Figures 2 and 5 illustrate how the offset portions IIla and IIa of the cover are provided with inwardly extending hinge type lugs I5 and I6 that receive pivot pins I1 and I8. The gripping members F have bearings I8 and 20 through which the pins I1 and I8 extend. It will be seen from this construction that the toilet roll gripping members F are pivotally supported to the cover C and can swing about horizontal axes within certain limits as will presently be shown.

In Figure 1, I show the front wall 2| of the cover C having a curved top portion 2Ia that extends to the top wall 2 of the casing A when the cover is closed. The front wall 2I of the cover has its lower edge 2Ib disposed a considerable distance above the lower front edge 1a of the rim 1 of the casing A. The space thus provided between the edges 1a and 2lb is sucient to expose the roll of toilet paper D that is being used. Figure 2 illustrates how the lower ends of the roll gripping members F project below the edge 2lb of the cover so as to bring the roll of toilet paper into view. These lower ends of Vthe members F carry inwardly extending trunnions 22 that vare designed to rotatably receive the lowermost roll of toilet paper D.

The diameter of the trunnions 22 is much smaller than the inner diameter 23 of the roll D and therefore I provide supporting discs G that may be removably mounted in the ends of the bore 23 of the roll D and these discs have openings 24 forrotatably receiving the trunnions 22. The supporting discs G also have flanges 25 that bear against the ends of the roll andl limit the depth to which the reduced portions of the discs enter the central bore of the roll. The lower ends of the gripping members F bear against the outer surfaces of the anges 25 mounted in the roll D. I preferably provide additional supporting discs G and insert these in the auxiliary rolls of toilet paper that are stored in the casing Ain a manner hereinafter described.

It will be seen that the thickness of each fiat and elongated gripping member F tapers from a fairly large butt at the lower end-to a relatively small thickness at the top. The purpose of this is to make the upper end of each gripping member more flexible than the lowerend. Figure 2 shows the inner surfaces of both members F provided with brackets 26 that extend toward each other and are disposed above the roll D which is in use so as to support a storage roll DI in spaced relation above the roll D, see Figure 1. It is possible to mount a second storage roll D2 in the casing A and have it rest upon the first or lowermost storage roll DI. Both storage rolls DI and D2 are disposed between the gripping members F and the rolls are provided with the supporting discs G so that these gripping members will contact with the members G.

It will further be seen from Figure 2 that the pivots I1 and I8 for the gripping members F are placed opposite the lowermost storage roll DI. I provide U-shaped springs 21, see Figure 2, that extend between the offset portions I0a and IIa of the cover C and the adjacent portions of the gripping members F and urge the lower ends of the gripping members toward each other, l. e., the ends extending below the pivot points I1 and I8. The force of the U-shaped springs 21 is sufficient to create a braking action on the supporting discs G and tend to retard the rotation of the roll D which is in use as the paper is unwound therefrom.

I provide novel means for freeing the tubular cardboard core 28 of the roll D from the trunnions 22 after the paper has been used from the core. Referring to Figures 2 and 4, it will be seen that I provide a handle 29 that is rotatably mounted on the front Wall 2I of the cover C and which may be manually turned. A lever 3U is secured to the handle on the inner side of the front cover wall 2|, see Figure 4, and this lever is rotated with the handle. Links 3I and 32 extend from the free ends of the lever 30 to other levers 33 and 34 that are pivotally carried by the offset portions Ina and IIa of the cover C. The lever 33 is pivoted at 35 to the offset portion I0a and the lever 34 is pivoted at 36 to the offset portion IIa. The free ends of the levers 33 and 34 are connected by eyelets 31 and 38 or other suitable fastening means to the roll gripping members F.

When the handle 29 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, when looking at Figure 2, the links 3I and 32 are moved toward each other and will swing the levers 33 and 34 so as to move the lower ends of the gripping members F away from each other. This movement is sufficient to remove the trunnions 22 from the bores 24 of the members G and permit the used roll D with the members G to drop clear of the machine by passing through the opening provided between the edge 2lb of the cover C and the edge 1a of the casing A. This same movement of the lower ends of the gripping members F away from each other will also remove the brackets 26 from under the first or lowermost storage roll DI. This storage rollis not under any appreciable clamping action'fromthe members F even though the lower ends of the members have beenv moved away from each other to free the used roll. This lack of clamping action on the first or lowermost storage roll DI is due to the fact that this roll is disposed between the pivot points I1 and I8 ofthe gripping members F and any movement of the gripping members about'their pivot points will not affect these portions. Even though the lower ends of the members -F have been moved far Only the cover C is viewable.

first'storage rollljll `Iwill therefore be 'suiiic'ient Atn cause lit toidrop by gravity toward the bottom oi the casing A whenthe brackets 26vare mentor the trunnions22V with the openings'24 is.v assured.- the person can release his hold on the handle 29 and permit the` springs 21 t0V move .thewlower ends ofv the ymembers F toward each Vv,other and cause the trunnions 22 to enter the openings 24 of the v discs G in the new roll.

-, I The purpose of tapering the gripping members F throughout their lengths is to make their upper ends thin andresilient so as to yieldingly engage with the second storage roll D2 when the lowerends of the gripping members are moved .away from each other for freeing the used roll D. It will be seen that when the lower ends ofthe members F are moved away from each other to free the used roll of to-ilet paper D, the upper ends of the same members F will be moved toward each other and since they arethin and therefore resilient, these ends will frictionally engage with the second storage roll D2 and hold this Vroll against downward movement even while permitting the lowermost storage roll DI to move downwardly by gravity. In this way only one .new roll will be moved vinto a position to take the place of the used roll. As soon as the new ,roll DI does take the place of the used roll D and the personreleases the handle 29 and permits the membersF to return to normal position, the upper ends of theV same members will move away from the top storage roll D2 and permit this roll to drop by gravity until it rests on the brackets 25. 1 In this simple way. one roll at a timeL can be fed to the lower portion of the device where the new roll can be mounted in proper position v.in the manner already described. The length of the casing. canbe increased to hold three storage rolls rather than Atwo as illustrated. If three rolls vare held in storage, thetops of the members F would be lengthened toV engage with the third roll in the' same manner as has been explained for the engagement by the members F with the second roll D2. The two top storage rolls would be held against downward movement .and only thejlowermost storage roll would be freed to take the pla-ce of the used roll.

The device makes a neat appearance in a bathroom or other place where such a device is used,

because the entire casingA is hidden from view. The cover C has a push button 39 at its top, see Figure 4, for depressing a spring catch 40 that yieldingly secures thecover to the casing A in closed position. When a person wishes toadd new storage rolls of paper to the casing, the button 39 is depressed "and the cover opened.A This will give access to the interiors of bothv the' casing and cover. The rolls are rst provided with the supporting discs G and then they are moved downwardly into the casing so as to be received between the gripping members F. The cover may then be closed and Figure 4 illustrates how the rear wall 3 of the casing and thefront wall 2| of vthe cover are vspaced just a slight distance "away from the4 storage rolls DI and D2 so as to actas Vguidesfor the s'toragejfrolls.

"wall 2| of the c'over is preferably Vprovided with an elongated 'window'ljfor permitting "a 'person to view the interiorfof'the casing 'anddeteg mine how many storage rolls of vpaper are housed within the casing 4 Itis p'ossiblelto provideV two hooks` (notsho nj) at the top ofthe easinegipl'forstqringtne' eine v tom thereof; a pair of jtoilet roll gripping members pivotally carried by the'cover and' arranged along the sides of the cov'erso vas to overliethe ends of the rolls; means 'carried by "the lower ends ofthe gripping members for rotatably supporting a 'roll of toilet paper in a position'whe're V'acc'ess'inay be had tothe roll through thejopening provided by the uncovered lower portionfof the casing; spring means for urging'the lower ends of the grippingfmemb'ers into frlctionalfengagement with the roll being used; "and auxiliary roll-supporting brackets l*carried* by thefgrip'- ping members for supportingstored rol-ls betweenthe gripping members-and above 'thebottorn roll being used. V i

2. Ina device vof the 'type'describedz apair of toilet roll gripping members verticallyarrang'ed and spaced apart in parallelrelation'so 'asto grip the ends of va' plurality `of toilet rollsfdisposed one above theotherand between the meinbers ;v a horizontally disposed pivotal support for each member;` means carriedby the `lower yends of the gripping members for rotatably supporting a roll of toilet paper in a 'position for use; spring meansfor urging the lower endsuofthe gripping members toward' each 'other for frictionally engaging the roll supported by vsaid roller carrying means; auxiliary roll-supporting brackets oarriedby the gripping members at a point for vsupporting the lowermost stored rollin a position between the gripping members and near thefpivotal supports and above theiroll being used if said gripping members extending a suincient distance above therst stored roll to receiveat least one more roll for storing, this roll resting on'the first mentioned stored roll and having its ends p'ositioned between the gripping members. i

3. In a device of the type described: a pair of toilet roll gripping members vertically 'arranged and spaced apart in parallel 'relation' so asto grip the ends of a plurality of toilet rolls disposed one above the other and between the members; a horizontally disposed pivotal support foreach member; means carried by the lower ends of the gripping members Vfor rotatably supporting a roll of toilet paper in a position for use; spring means for urging the lower ends of the gripping members toward each other for frictionally engaging the roll supported by said roller carrying means; auxiliary roll-supporting brackets carried' by the gripping members at a point for supporting the lowermost stored roll in a position between the gripping members and near the pivotal supports and above the roll being used; said gripping members extending a sufficient distance above the first stored rollito receive at least one more roll for storing, this roll resting on the rst mentioned vstored rolland4 having its endspositioned between the gripping members; means for swinging said gripping members about their pivots for moving the lower ends away from each other when it is desired to free the lowermost roll from the members; the rst mentioned stored roll being free to move downwardly by gravity to occupy the position formerly occupied by the roll being used, and the next roll above the said first mentioned stored roll being held against downward movement by the upper ends of the gripping members being urged inwardly and gripping said exception of the lower portion so that a roll of toilet paper can pass through this uncovered lower portion even when the cover is closed; a pair of flat and elongated toilet roll gripping members pivotally secured in spaced relation to the sides of the cover and extending substantially 1 throughout the length of the casing when the cover is closed; the nat sides of the gripping members paralleling the sides of the cover and the Vmembers being spaced far enough apart to receive toilet paper rolls therebetween so that the ends of the rolls are disposed adjacent to the 4inner surfaces of the members; trunnions carried bythe lower ends of the members; yielding means yfor urging the lower ends of the members toward each other so that the trunnions will enter the ends of the toilet roll bore and will rotatably support the roll; brackets mounted on the members above the trunnion supported roll and extending inwardly for supporting an extra roll of toilet paper; the pivotal supports for the members being positioned where the extra roll is supported by the brackets; the upper ends of the members being adapted to receive at least one additional roll for storage, this roll resting on the said iirst mentioned extra roll and having its ends disposed between the members; and means for swinging the lower ends of the nembers away from eachother for freeing the trunnion supported roll when the latter is used, this movement releasing the brackets from the rst meni ltimed extra roll and permitting it to drop by gravity into a position for connection with the trunnions; the upper ends of the members gripping the second mentioned additional roll Vand preventing it from` dropping; the members when freed from the swinging means, causing the trunnions to support the extra roll and permitting the additional roll to move down and be supported by the brackets.

5. A device of the type described comprising a casing having an open front lying in a vertical plane; a cover having sides and being hinged to the casing and closing the open front with the exception of the lower portion so that a roll of toilet paper can pass through this uncovered lower portion even when the cover is closed; a

I pair of at and elongated toilet roll gripping members pivotally secured in spaced relation to l the sides of the cover and extending substantial- 1y throughout the length of the casing when the cover is closed; the fiat sides of the gripping members paralleling the sides of the cover and the members being spaced far enough apart to receive toilet paper rolls therebetween so that the ends of the rolls are disposed adjacent to the inner surfaces of the members; trunnions carried by the lower ends of the members; yielding means for urging the lower ends of the members toward each other so that the trunnions will enter the ends of the toilet roll bore and will rotatably support the roll; brackets mounted on the members above the trunnion supported roll and extending inwardly for supporting an extra roll of toilet paper; the pivotal supports for the members being positioned where the extra roll is supported by the brackets; the upper ends oi' the members being adapted to receive at least one additional roll for storage, this roll resting on the said rst mentioned extra. roll and having its ends disposed between the members; and means for swinging the lower ends of the members away from eachother for freeing the trunnion supported roll when the latter is used, this movement releasing the brackets from the first mentioned extra roll and permitting it to drop by gravity into a position for connection with the trunnions; the upper ends of the members gripping the second mentioned additional roll and preventing it from dropping; the members when freed from the swinging means, causing the trunnions to support the extra roll and permitting the additional roll to move down and be supported by the brackets; said gripping members being gradually reduced in thickness from their lower ends to their tops so that the upper ends of the members will flex and yieldingly engage with the ends of the second mentioned additional roll.

6. A device of the type described comprising a casing having an open front lying in a vertical plane; a cover having sides and being hinged to the casing and closing the open front with the exception of the lower portion so that a roll of toilet paper can pass through this uncovered lower portion even when the cover is closed; a pair of at and elongated toilet roll gripping members pivotally secured in spaced relation to the sides of the cover and extending substantially throughout the length of the casing when the cover is closed; the fiat sides of the gripping members paralleling the sides of the cover and the members being spaced far enough apart to receive toilet paper rolls therebetween so that the ends of the rolls are disposed adjacent to the inner surfaces of the members; trunnions carried by the lower ends of the members; yielding means for urging the lower ends of the members toward each other so that the trunnions will enter the ends of the toilet roll bore and will rotatably support the roll; brackets mounted on the members above the trunnion supported roll and extending inwardly for supporting an extra roll o! toilet paper; the pivotal supports for the members being positioned where the extra roll is supported by the brackets; the upper ends of the members being adapted to receive atleast one additional roll for storage, this roll resting on the said rst mentioned extra roll and having its ends disposed between the members; means for swinging the lower ends of the members away A from each other for freeing the trunnion supported roll when the latter is used, this movement releasing the brackets from the first-mentioned extra roll and permitting it to drop by gravity into a position for connection with the trunnions;

. the upper ends of the members gripping the second mentioned additional roll and preventing it from dropping; the members when freed from the swinging means, causing the trunnions to support the extra roll and permitting the additional roll to move down and be supported by the brackets, and removable supporting discs and 9 10 adapted to be received in the ends of the rolls UNITED STATES PATENTS and to enter the ends of the central bores in the rolls a slight distance; said discs having Iugpfgrm Merllrne Api) 9'11781913 openings for rotatably receiving the trunnions. 116861911 Fredlun': Oct' 9: 1928 CHESTER S- DEFFENBAUGH- 5 2,299,301 Britt et a1. oet. 2o, 1942 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me of this patent: 

